Insect bites and stings

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• Local venom, saliva, or pathogen exposure from insects, arachnids, or ticks.
• Reactions range from local inflammation to anaphylaxis or vector-borne infection.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Assess airway, breathing, circulation, swelling of lips/tongue, wheezing, hives, hypotension, and bite location.
• Use emergency response for anaphylaxis signs and follow ordered epinephrine pathway.
• Teach site care, tick removal prevention, and when to report fever, spreading redness, target rash, or systemic symptoms.

Complications

• Anaphylaxis
• Cellulitis
• Lyme disease or other vector-borne illness
• Compartment swelling rarely

NCLEX cues

• Wheezing or tongue swelling after sting is airway emergency.
• Bull's-eye rash after tick exposure needs evaluation.
• Do not focus on itching before ABCs.

Memory hooks

• Bites itch; stings can close airway.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.

Review notes

• Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.